Acute Kidney Injury in Children

by Ren Chats
(Denmark)

Medications to bring down fever or take away pain are regularly given to children, often without any fear of undesirable effects on child health, but the study by Jason M. Misurac et al published in the Journal of Pediatrics proves it otherwise.

Drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen are noted to cause acute kidney injury in children of all age group; teenagers were found to be most frequently affected.

The percentage of children who suffer from this ill effect is however small, but affected children suffer significant ill health attributable to acute tubular necrosis and nephritis. Children under 5 years of age are more likely to require therapeutic interventions.

In the retrospective study conducted on 1015 acute renal injury pediatric patients, 27 children’s renal disease was attributable to intake of non steroidal anti inflammatory medications. 20 of these 27 children had taken the prescribed medication in correct doses.

In spite of several undesirable side effects, non steroidal anti inflammatory medications have gained much popularity with doctors and parents over last few decades. Some of them are easily accessible over the counter. With another serious ill effect added to the list, caution need to be employed before administering these medications to children.

Reference:

“Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Are an Important Cause of Acute Kidney Injury in Children”; Jason M. Misurac, Chad A. Knoderer, Jeffrey D. Leiser, Corina Nailescu, Amy C. Wilson and Sharon P. Andreoli: The Journal of Pediatrics, 2013 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.11.069

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